important

Following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency in order to build his border wall, critics are heaping legal hurdles in his way. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said he’ll sue, together with several over states, while a number of advocacy groups have already made similar moves. Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller said Trump would “protect his national emergency declaration, guaranteed.”

Are Republicans worried? As OZY reports, some fear that Trump is spending his political and legal capital on a fight that’s not worth the cost.

Best Defense

This isn’t a friend request. In a new report on fake news and social media disinformation, the British Parliament’s media committee accused Facebook of “intentionally and knowingly” shirking privacy and anti-trust laws. Lawmakers branded the platform a “digital gangster” for transferring user data to app developers — and also slammed Mark Zuckerberg for failing to appear before the committee.

So what do authorities recommend? Besides enforcing a mandatory ethics policy for social media companies, officials also suggest an independent regulator should be able to launch legal proceedings against them.

Digital Trouble

Days after at least 40 Indian soldiers died in a car bomb in the disputed Kashmir region, four more were killed in a gunfight with Pakistan-based Islamist militants. But security forces reportedly killed two of the organizers behind Thursday’s attack, which was the deadliest in decades and the source of fresh tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Will the violence ever end? Some critics believe India’s heavy-handed administration of Kashmir only fuels discontent and radicalization.

Fallout

The 45-year-old man who gunned down five co-workers at a manufacturing plant outside Chicago Friday reportedly shouldn’t have had his gun in the first place. Despite Gary Martin’s 1995 assault conviction — detected during a second background check — state authorities only revoked his carry permit but failed to seize his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun. Martin was killed in a shoot-out with cops.

Could this have consequences for gun control? At least in the Prairie State, the attack has already prompted calls for authorities to more effectively enforce firearm permits.

Hidden Background

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly ordered the release of more than 2,100 Pakistani prisoners during his visit to Islamabad. Chicago police are seeking a follow-up interview with actor Jussie Smollet, who was reportedly assaulted there last month, after their investigation “shifted.” And ex-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has suggested that President Trump may have committed a crime by firing his boss, James Comey, in 2017.

#OZYfact:More than 100 languages are spoken in London’s borough of Haringey. Read more on OZY.

We’re hiring! OZY’s looking for an ambitious and creative podcast producer. Could this be you? Check out the job description for more details … and find all our open jobs right here.

In Short

intriguing

The Volkswagen-owned company has warned that prospective buyers may pay a premium of up to 10 percent if the U.K. leaves the EU without a deal. That’s because the carmaker — one of the most profitable in the world, pocketing $17,000 per vehicle last year — would need to cover new import tariffs. The U.K. accounts for 4.9 percent of Porsche sales.

What about VW’s other brands? The company hasn’t commented, but considering its line includes Audi, Lamborghini and Skoda, any price hikes would likely be far-reaching.

Racing Ahead

Fairfield County’s wealthy Gold Coast — a conservative bastion where the Bush family has its roots — may be moving left in the age of President Trump, OZY reports. Residents critical of the president’s unconventional character and his tax bill, which dinged wealthy homeowners, have tightened their purse strings. In the 2014 midterms, local donors gave $14 million to Republicans, but in 2018 that figure dropped to just $11.5 million.

Is the GOP facing doom in Connecticut? Not so fast: The party has seen big gains in more rural and working-class regions of the Nutmeg State.

Changing Tide

Believe it or not. Many of those who contend the government is covering up the globe’s true shape became adherents after clicking on related videos recommended by YouTube’s algorithms, according to a Texas Tech University researcher. She found that 29 of the 30 people she interviewed at a flat Earth convention — many of them college-educated — said they’d been turned onto the theory by YouTube.

Is this a circular conspiracy? A survey last year found that only two-thirds of young people “firmly believe” the planet is round.

Trending Topic

New York Police Department commander Emanuel Gonzalez allegedly told officers last June to shoot the rapper on sight, just as 50 Cent was to appear at a police-sanctioned boxing match. The remark, which sources say Gonzalez passed off as a joke, came after 50 Cent reportedly threatened him on Instagram. The NYPD has launched a probe into the incident, while 50 Cent said he’s taking the threat “very seriously.”

How are departments tackling police misconduct? In Los Angeles County, for example, a judge appears ready to uphold a transparency law aimed at unlocking decades of sealed misconduct reports.

Shoot to Kill

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver escaped a 21-car crash to finish ahead of teammates Kyle Busch and Erik Jones in the 500-mile NASCAR Cup race yesterday — the first time since 1997 a single team took the three top spots. “We were always one row ahead of the mayhem,” said Hamlin, who steered clear of three wrecks during the last 10 laps.

Who is Joe Gibbs? He coached the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowls and called Sunday’s emotional victory — which came weeks after the death of his son and team co-founder — “the most important, biggest win I’ve ever had in my life.”